Tempeeatuee in webeemetees



(No Model.)

T. A. EDISON. v METHOD 0E MAINTAINING TEMPERATURE IN WEBEEMETEES. No.265,774.

Patented Oct. 10, 1882.

WITNBSSES:

INVENTOP.: v4 59W,

NITED STATES PATENT erica.

THOMAS A. EDISON, OE MENLO PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE EDISONELEOTRlG LIGHT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF lVlAINTAINING TEMPERATURE IN WEBERNIETERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,774, dated October10, 18E2, Application tiled November 11, 1831. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: l

Beit known that I, THOMAS A. EDisoN, of Menlo Park, in the county ot'Middlesex and State of New Jersey, have invented a nen7 and usefulImprovement in TVeDermeterS, (Oase No. 350;) and I do hereby declarethat the fol-v lowing is a full and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

An electrolytic webermeter used in connection with a group or housesystem of lamps or translating devices to measure the amount of/ energysupplied thereto from a central station must sometimes be placed inaposition where it will be exposed to fluctuations of temperature andincur danger of the freezing of the liquid. During the continuance ot'such freezing, if it should happen, the webermeter would of course failto perform its duty.

The object of this invention therefore is to provide a method which willinsure a maintenance of temperature above the freezing-point within thewebermeter box or case.

The method may be stated generally as consisting incausing a dangerousfall ot' tempera ture to set in action agencies which then act uponmeans arranged and adapted to heat to the necessary degree theatmosphere within the webermeter box or case, or around and inimmediatecontiguitytothewebermeter. Suitable means for carrying thisinto practice may be brieliy described as follows: Within the webermeterbox or case a thermostatic spring is arranged, with its free endcontrolling directly or through intermediate mechanism the vent of asmall water-reservoir, and in such manner that at ordinary or nou-dangerous temperatures the vent is entirely closed, but so that when thetemperature falls to near the freezing-point the veut shall be openedand 4permit the water to escape in a small stream or drop by drop. Belowthe vent, and so that the water issuing therefrom shall fall therein, isa receptacle holding` a quantity of acetate of soda or of quichlime. Thevent being opened andwater falling thereon, heat is generated, whichraises the temperature within the box and prevents the freezing of theliquid.

It is evident that the thermostat, instead of acting directly or throughintermediate mechanical means, may operate to close a circuit, which maybe derived from the main circuit through a magnet controlling the vent,or that it may act as the stop to a clock-work, which, released, shallpump water upon the material used, or which may control the vent.

A convenient mode of carrying my invention into effect is illustrateddiagram matic-ally in the annexed drawing.

3 4E is the house-circuit whose current is to be measured, which isderived from the main line l 2. In a shunt, 5 6, from the circuit 3 etis the eleetrolytic-cell meter A.

7 S is a multiple-arc circuit from the circuit 3 4, including the coilsot' an electro-magnet, B, and also including the compound thermostaticbar O, whose free end'is normally held away from contact at a, thuskeeping open the circuit 7 S; but on a considerable decrease oftemperature, sufficient to cause danger of the freezing ot' the liquidin the cell A, the unequal contraction ot' the two metals which composethe bar O causes a movement of such bar and closes the circuit. Themagnet B, being thus energized, draws toward its poles thearmature-lever D., which is pivoted at b, Iand has a retracting-spring,c. To the lever D is attached an arm, d.

E is a vessel containing water, its lower end formed into a tube, e,which enters Va rubber tube,f. The lower end of tube f is placed over avessel, F, containing pieces of quicklime g. Vhen t-he circuit 7 S isopen andthe magnet B not energized the arm d presses against the rubbertubef, so as to closeit and prevent the water from escaping; but whenthe magnet is energized the arm d is withdrawn and the water is allowedto drop into the vessel F onto the lime, and the heat thus evolved warmsthe liquid in the meter, which is in close proximity thereto, andprevents the freezing thereof.

It is also evident that the thermostatic spring may act to close anelectrical circuit through a resistance adapted to be heated thereby,and placed in proximity to the webermeter cell or cells, or to close acircuit to an electric lamp placed in the same position for heating thetemperature.

IOO

Separate application for paient has been made for some of these specificmeans of earrying the method into effect, and for the others suchseparate applications will he hereafter 5 malle; hence they are notclaimed herein; but

Vh'at I (lo claim herein is- The herein-deserihed method of maintainingi the temperature of the liquid in an eleetrolytie cell above the'`reezingpoint, which 'consists H. W. SEELY, RIGHD. N. DYER.

